Painting the exterior of a house, you often discover places where the wood siding or trim has suffered the effects of time and weather. Sometimes this shows up as splits and cracks, other times as holes made by insects or rodents, and sometimes as areas of mold and dry rot. What should you do when you discover these issues? Is it OK to paint damaged wood?
Exterior paint is designed to be a protective, attractive coating for your surfaces. While it helps prevent damage to wooden surfaces, it cannot be expected to fix surfaces that are already damaged. Except in the case of small, hairline cracks, the wood is going to need some repair before you apply the exterior paint.
What to Do with Damaged Wood when Painting
Twisting: If a board has twisted, cupped, or warped in such a way that there are gaps or cracks around it, the wood should be securely refastened with exterior wood screws.
Cracks: If you could fit a dime into a crack, it is too wide for paint to cover it well. Use caulk or wood filler to fill the spaces, then prime the area before you paint.
Dry Rot: All wood that has become soft, rotten, or crumbly needs to be removed. For small spots, that wood can be scraped or cut away, then the area can be filled in with wood filler. However, if any significant amount of wood is damaged, it is best to replace the whole board. Before installing the new board, prime all 6 sides of it.
Mildew/Mold: If you have some surface mildew or mold, it can be killed with bleach or another fungicidal solution. Rinse the area, let it dry, and then paint it. However, if the mildew or mold has gone deeper than the surface, you will need to cut out the affected wood and replace it.
Bare Wood: If the paint has peeled off of some areas but the wood is in good shape, you need to remove any additional failing paint as your first step. You can do this with a wire brush, sandpaper, or a pressure washer. If the paint may have lead in it (houses painted before the early 1980’s), you need a lead-certified painting contractor to do this. Once the failed paint is removed, prime any bare wood, and then apply your top coats.
Cherry Hill Painting
For homeowners in New Jersey and the Philadelphia region, the best way to deal with damaged exterior wood is to call Cherry Hill Painting. We are skilled and experienced with every kind of exterior painting situation, and we can take care of the problems efficiently and correctly.
In addition to exterior painting, Cherry Hill Painting also offers interior painting, wallpaper removal, remodeling, cabinet refinishing, deck maintenance and restoration, and more. Contact us for a free painting estimate!